Belsomra: Difference between revisions

Line 5:

<scene name='74/746099/Belsomra/1'>Belsomra</scene>, also known as Suvorexant, is a medication used to treat the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep <ref>10.1097/01.NAJ.0000457406.61092.35</ref>. While most other insomnia drugs, like Ambien and Lunesta, are GABA agonists and work to slow down neuronal firings, Belsomra is the first drug to target orexin <ref>doi: 10.1017/S1092852916000225</ref>. Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors in order to cause alertness and wakefulness. By targeting these neurotransmitters, it cuts off the signals causing one to be awake, and will result in sleep (1).

<scene name='74/746099/Belsomra/1'>Belsomra</scene>, also known as Suvorexant, is a medication used to treat the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep <ref>doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000457406.61092.35</ref>. While most other insomnia drugs, like Ambien and Lunesta, are GABA agonists and work to slow down neuronal firings, Belsomra is the first drug to target orexin <ref>doi: 10.1017/S1092852916000225</ref>. Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors in order to cause alertness and wakefulness. By targeting these neurotransmitters, it cuts off the signals causing one to be awake, and will result in sleep (1).

== Function ==

The orexin neuropeptides, Orexin-A and Orexin-B, can excite neurons in the brain and affect multiple systems, including the acetylcholine, dopamine, histamine, and norepinephrine systems (4). These orexin neuropeptides bind to the receptors, Orexin receptors types 1 and 2, which are G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The GPCRs can sense a molecule outside the cell and send a signal through transduction in order to cause the cells to respond (5). Thus, binding of the two can control wakefulness and sleep in homo sapiens. In studies, Orexin-B has shown to be more selective in binding, choosing to bind to Orexin receptor type 2 a majority of the time. Orexin-A has shown an equal selectivity at both types of receptors (4). Belsomra is a dual orexin receptor antagonist, and has the ability to block both Orexin receptors 1 and 2, thus inhibiting the neuropeptides from binding. By blocking this interaction, sleep can occur (1).

Navigation menu

Page actions

Page actions

Personal tools

Navigation

Search

Tools

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
-	<scene name='74/746099/Belsomra/1'>Belsomra</scene>, also known as Suvorexant, is a medication used to treat the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep <ref>10.1097/01.NAJ.0000457406.61092.35</ref>.  While most other insomnia drugs, like Ambien and Lunesta, are GABA agonists and work to slow down neuronal firings, Belsomra is the first drug to target orexin <ref>doi: 10.1017/S1092852916000225</ref>.    Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors in order to cause alertness and wakefulness.  By targeting these neurotransmitters, it cuts off the signals causing one to be awake, and will result in sleep (1).
+	<scene name='74/746099/Belsomra/1'>Belsomra</scene>, also known as Suvorexant, is a medication used to treat the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep <ref>doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000457406.61092.35</ref>.  While most other insomnia drugs, like Ambien and Lunesta, are GABA agonists and work to slow down neuronal firings, Belsomra is the first drug to target orexin <ref>doi: 10.1017/S1092852916000225</ref>.    Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors in order to cause alertness and wakefulness.  By targeting these neurotransmitters, it cuts off the signals causing one to be awake, and will result in sleep (1).
 == Function ==
 The orexin neuropeptides, Orexin-A and Orexin-B, can excite neurons in the brain and affect multiple systems, including the acetylcholine, dopamine, histamine, and norepinephrine systems (4).  These orexin neuropeptides bind to the receptors, Orexin receptors types 1 and 2, which are G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs).  The GPCRs can sense a molecule outside the cell and send a signal through transduction in order to cause the cells to respond (5). Thus, binding of the two can control wakefulness and sleep in homo sapiens.  In studies, Orexin-B has shown to be more selective in binding, choosing to bind to Orexin receptor type 2 a majority of the time.  Orexin-A has shown an equal selectivity at both types of receptors (4).  Belsomra is a dual orexin receptor antagonist, and has the ability to block both Orexin receptors 1 and 2, thus inhibiting the neuropeptides from binding.  By blocking this interaction, sleep can occur (1).